Fletcher
Henderson was one of the 1930s ‘big band’ pioneers both in musicianship
and orchestration. He used only the leading players of the day
and together with Don Redman they created a style of arrangement
that was adopted by many of their peers. On ‘Blue Rhythm’ are
recordings made between 1931 and 1933 – a time when Henderson
had one of his most impressive collection of stars in the band.
They included Rex Stewart – trumpet, Coleman Hawkins – tenor and
clarinet, Russell Procope – alto and clarinet, J.C. Higginbotham
– trombone and Edgar Sampson – alto and clarinet who was also
an accomplished arranger.

The
opener ‘Sugar Foot Stomp’ is a re-arranged version of King
Oliver’s ‘Dippermouth Blues.’ This up-tempo version features
Procope, Hawkins and Benny Morton. The ODJB favourite, ‘Tiger
Rag,’ is performed with novel approach as part of the melody
is taken at half-tempo.

By
the time the two 1933 sessions were made Stewart had departed
to be succeeded by Henry ‘Red’ Allen and that fine trombonist
Dickie Wells had also joined. Also Fletcher’s brother Horace had
taken the piano chair – Horace also arranged for the band – but
the quality of the music never waned. Evidence of Horace’s arranging
talent is heard on the Hawkins number ‘Queer Notions’ which
incorporates an harmonically advanced chord structure. Be that
as it may Hawkins and Allen contribute ‘laid back’ solos.

‘Blue
Rhythm’ is a first class compilation of the music of a highly
capable and respected bandleader. For a few years Henderson’s
music brought him great prominence but by 1934 he had to break
the band up. He then enjoyed more fame as an arranger for the
Benny Goodman Orchestra than he had achieved as a leader himself.
For a brief period in 1939 he played piano with Goodman.